OMAHA, Neb. — If it was a contest about who missed who more, Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler is certain he knows the winner.

Himself.

“I think I missed them a little bit more than they missed me,” he said.

It was a photo finish.

The Nuggets missed Chandler, who was on the shelf for the entire 2015-16 season after having hip surgery, immensely. Coach Michael Malone had already dreamed of the lineups he could create with the versatile forward. But all of that was thrown out of the window before the regular season began.

Chandler missed his team. Missed the camaraderie, missed the court, and was tired of going through yet another grueling rehabilitation.

But now he’s back.

“Having Wilson back is such a blessing,” Malone said. “When he went down last preseason, that was a really devastating injury.”

What are the Nuggets getting with Chandler’s return?

Harry How, Getty Images

Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets is fouled on his shot by Matt Barnes #22 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on April 13, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

On the surface, a number of things. Chandler and Danilo Gallinari give the Nuggets the ability to be a matchup problem for most any team by playing either one of them at power forward. Malone played Gallinari in that spot on many occasions last season. Now he can exploit that matchup even more without getting either Gallo or Chandler beat up too much because they can split the time there.

The 6-foot-8 Chandler adds length to the Nuggets perimeter defense. He’ll be a key cog for a Nuggets defense that is revamping how it covers the 3-point line. If the Nuggets choose to play both he and Gallinari at the same time, they can switch everything on defense, which gives them a better chance at keeping the ballhandler in front of them and puts them in a better position to contest jump shots.

Chandler’s presence will also help make up for some of the rebounding the Nuggets lost when they traded away Joffrey Lauvergne. Chandler has been a solid rebounder throughout his career, and because he can handle the ball as well, any boards he corrals can immediately be pushed up court.

“He’s a guy that when you look at it, checks more boxes than anybody else with everything he brings to the table,” Malone said.

Chandler will be monitored closely throughout camp, naturally, to ensure there are no setbacks. He played 78 games in 2014-15. Getting him through training camp and to the regular season is key. Chandler said his hip is “actually a lot better than it was beforehand. A lot stronger, more mobility.”

And he won’t complain about being held out here and there until the season begins.

“I don’t know how excited I am about two-a-days,” he said, laughing. “But I’m excited to be back on the court for sure.”

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